The Hyperbaric Chamber and other updates

 1/9/2021

I have now had 4 hyperbaric treatments. 

This is the chamber:

This is the weird collar that I wear. It connects to my hood:

(my hair is super cute because getting the collar on is a process)

I am wearing scrubs. In this photo you can't see that the pants are size large. Why? you ask: "We don't get very many small patients. Usually they are all large. We ordered smalls, but they have not come in yet!" (Y'all are a hospital... just go down the hall...??) They did find me a small top. It does not match the bottoms. I told them I can be flexible and it is fine. 

Also, I can only wear 100% cotton under my scrubs (and I need to layer because I am SO COLD!). I found a pair of PJ pants and an old long-sleeve from a 10k I ran (oh the irony!). 

I can't show you the inside because we are literally not allowed ANYTHING in the chamber. 

It is basically like being on a submarine. They use a lot of SCUBA terms, and call each treatment a "dive." Essentially, we are going down to "depth" which indicated that the pressure in the chamber has reached its peak. We hang out there for about two hours with our weird little helmets on. We watch a movie from the 90' and 00's. (We've seen Mamma Mia!, Music & Lyrics, Muriel's Wedding, and  Poseidon--which is kind of messed up to make us watch a movie about people drowning and needing oxygen while we are in helmets and someone is controlling how much I can O2 I can breathe... I was not ok with that, but c'mon in what world would I ever choose to watch Poseidon?) Many of the others take a nap. (I can't nap at 8am.)

On the way "up" to sea-level, it gets super cold in the chamber. Apparently I am the only one who cares and need literally four(!) blankets on top of my layers to cope. 

In terms of side-effects, the main one that I am currently experiencing is fatigue. I actually do OK for most of the day, and then around 6pm I begin to droop. I just went from NO sleep to suuuuuper sleepy. It isn't too bad because I have to wake up by 5:30 or 6 to get ready for the treatment. I am slower now, so I can't just rush and get ready. 

In terms of my walking, I am doing pretty well. I am working hard to do my PT exercises and to try to alternate my feet on stairs (when there is a rail!). I am hopeful that all of these treatments--steroids, hyperbarics, acupuncture, PT,--are working!

I am still very puffy from the steroids, so I am curious how much is puff and steroids, and how much is just weight I gained. It will be a fair bit, but I started pretty darn low, so I am not stressing about it-- and there is no way my face will look the way it looks now.

I have also started acupuncture through NY Presbyterian. I can get it when I have another appointment in the hospital. I will  primarily getting it during my infusions. 

As for life stuff, we are back to school this week doing distance learning to ensure we are all safe before heading back into the buildings together. 

Last week, Chris and I celebrated the New Year together in a cozy lakefront home about 90 minutes away from Tarrytown. We really enjoyed it, and we decided we might try to find a little weekend/vacation home for ourselves. We aren't in a rush, so it is a fun game to play for the moment. 

XO, A